Tube-cleaner.



PATENTED JULY 16, 1907.

P. W. GANALES- TUBE CLEANER.

APPLICATION FILED JUNE 27,1906.

rave/2307'.

UNITED s-TA rns 'PA'EENT OF ICE.

FRANK w. CANALES, OF PORTLAND, nsms-sssronon 'ro rnsrscrror: TUBE CLEANER COMPANY, OF CUMBERLAND COUNTY, MAINE, A oonrorwrron or MAINE.

TUBE-cums.

Tohll whom it may concern: 1

Be it known that I, Fhsxx W. CANALES, a citizen of the-United States,residing at'Portland, in the county or Cumberland and State of Maine, have invented an Improvement in TubeCleaners;'and I hereby declarethat the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, which will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same. My invention relates to tube cleaners whereby the tubes of locomotive and other boilers may be cleaned expeditiously, safely and conveniently.

The mechanism in whichl have embodied myirivention consists inatube provided at the operative end with a conical nozzle and with means for the introduction 1 5 into said pipe of steam or compressed air, means whereby I a current of atmospheric air may be introduced into said tube and means within said-tube whereby a rotary motion may be given to the currents of air passing throughih In the'drswing-z Figure 1 is a side elevationof the device; Fig. 2' is'a longitudinal vertical section of a part of the device showing the Y connecting with the outer air, the spiral and the method of connecting the, Y with the pipe inthe rear; and Fig. 3 is a longitudinal vertical section of the nozzle. 4 isa longitudinal vertical section showing the ball joint.

Tothe handle 1, which may be used for convenience,

is screwed, or otherwise secured, the pipe or Y 2 with provision at the open end of the Y for the connection therewith of a hose orpipe. Into the forward end of the Y 2 is screwed the pipe 3 which may or may not be provided with throttle 4 having the ordinary means for closing and opening the same. It may be operated bythe handle 5. The pipe 3 term nates in a nozzle or jet 5 of the ordinary construction: ,See Fig. 2.

The outside is threaded to permit its being securely screwed into-the Y 6 which is similar in construction rothe! Zand histhe same orsimilar means wherebya hose or pipe may be attached to the depending end. Another pipe 7, of sufiicient length, is connected the front end of the r 6. Within this pipe 1 is rigidly: fixedthelpinl8. Theothetendofthepipefisscrewed. intoandcloselyccnnected with the bell'joint 9 which n provided within with a cup adapted to receive a. hol- 46 lcwqshaefloonesideofwhichis attached the pipe 10 connector?! with the'nosde, the other hemisphere being The cup and ballare soconstrua; as to movement, in any one plane, of about ninety degrees. To the outer or free end of the i e 10 issecured the nozzle 11; Th'u nozzle 11 consists of a ,hollow mam! within which is fixed the incone l2. con. i; so placed within 'the shun um its coincide with the center Letters Patent. Patented July 16, 1907..

Application filed June 27, 1906- Serial Ho. 323,552.

l of the truncated cone and the former is of such diameter I l as to leave an annular opening between the base of the 55 a invertedcone and the wall of the opening of the nozzlell. I W

In operation, the hose 13 attached to the nearniost'Y is connected with the steam or compressed air pipe. the i handle 5 closing the throttle 4. Thenozzle of the device is then placed within the end of the tube to be cleaned and held firmly against it and the throttle opened. At once the compressed air or steam enters the pipe and, priming through the jet 5 into the .Y 6, there rnakes a vacuum which muses the atmospheric air to enter through the pipe 14. As the current of air or steam passes around the spiral 8 in the pipe 7 it receives a centrifugal motion whence .it is forced through. the sphere 10 into the nozzle 11 through the annular openingin which it issues while maintaining its com triiugal motion. 'lhe action of the rotary currentot airupon th'e walls of the tube is such as to remoye dirt" and all other ordinary obstructions,-scour it sndre'nder it perfectly clean. The device is especially adapted Y for use upon thetubes of locomotive boilers because of the difficulty 'enperienced in overcoming the obstructions caused by the arch.- in, this instance, it is not necesshryw remove the arch, but the device can be intnxluced over the mp of the arch and bymeans of; the adjustable nozzle can be introduced into the end! of the tubes at the bottom of the boiler or at the sides thereof with a facility equal to that with which it can be introduced into those at the top or middl A great saving in expense and time results.

when steam is used in preference to compressed air,

.the-heat and moisture are both absorbed by the air which enters through the pipe 14, so that the current i which issues from the nozzle consistsof dry heated air irec from moisture thus avoiding the objection which might be made that the introduction of a heated and 'moist current into the tubes of the boiler might-cause pitting oi the tubes;

In case it is found that the tube being operated upon is scaled to any considerable extents-it may 'be found necessary to use sand in the cleaning process which is easily effected by introducing the lower end of the pipe 14 into a box or other supply of sand whence the sand is carried by the air drawn into the pipe by the vacuum and forms part of the centrifugal rotary current discharged into the tube and effectively-remotes the Should a tube be found to be fully closed, the obstruction can be rgrnovrul and the tube cleaned by closing and quickly'opening: the valve 4, the sudden impact of the current upon the obstruction generally removes it huh'should the lirst impact of the current 105 fail to .do so, repean'slT-losing and opening oi the valve 4 will ifinaily effect it. The tube cleaner may also be used for purpose of washing boiler tubes with hot water, the pipe 13. being connected with the boiler r steam supply and the hose liiwith supply of cold water. I Th water heated by the steam before itieayes the .pipe is llllliOdllCGd into the tube through the nozzle in the same manner as the air already described.

" My appliii'nce is} of great utility upon locomotives not ohhi ior't'lr purposes already stated, but also for extinguishing Elites along the road be i of the road or in alt rain, the pipe 13 in such case being connectedi ith the compressed air hose or with the pipe 14 with the water of the tender..

r I t The water thrown through the nozzle covers, a short distance therefmm, a space of many feet in diameter.

What I -elfaitn is: r 1. in a d vice for cleaning boiiertubcs, a pipe provided with suitable means of connection with a steam or compressed air supply' and a conical nozzle at the operative endot said pipe, together with means whereby said nozzle may he moved independently of i iiid-pipe'at various anglen therewltla substantially as descrlbeds;

the entranceo't the compressed air or steam and the open ing for the entrance of the outer air, together with a conical nozzle, all substantially as described. 9

4. in a device for cleaningboilcr tubes. the combination of ti blile brorldcd with means of connection with a." reservoir of compressed air or steam. means of connection with the outer air, a contraction of said pipe between the opening for the entrance of the compresscd air or steam 40 and the opening for the entrance of air. means within said pipe wllcrebythe current passing through the same may be given a rotary motion and a conical nozzle, all substantially as described. t

5. in a device. for cleaning boiler tubes, a pipe provided with means of connection with a reservoir of compressed air or steam and a cortical nozzle combining a. hollow truncated cone opened at the top and closed at the base with an opening in the latter for the reception of a pipe and an inverted cone iixr-d within said fir named cone. the diameter of the base of said inverted cone being less than the opening opposite the base of said truncated com, said nozzle being so connected with said pipe as to. permit the movement of said nozzle in any direction independently of said pipe. substantially as described. 5F

6. in a devTce for cleaning boiler tubes, a pipe provided with means of connection witlrn reservoir of compressed air or steam. means of connection with the outernir and-,a conical nozzle having within an inverted cone so iixo-d as to provide an annular opening for said nozzle and means of connection between said nozzle and said pipe whereby tin-.moventcnt at said nozzle may be effected independently of said pipe, substantially, its described.

-in testimony whereof, that i claim ;the foregoing '11s r my invention i have hereunto set my hand this twentythird day of June, AL I). 1906.

FRANK w. CANALES. Signed in presence of A, (l. hici'unizsux, Giro. E. iiutn. 

